Why did the US drop a 500 lb bomb on al-Jazeera in Kabul?

[DoYouEverWonder]

In light of the recent revelations regarding George Bush's comment about bombing al-Jeezera in Oman, we need to re-examine other attacks that have occurred over the last 5 years.

On Nov 12, 2001 a US warplane dropped a 500-pound bomb on al-Jazeera's studios in Kabul, Afghanistan. Fortunately no one was in the building at the time.

This attack had nothing to do with capturing Osama, or putting the Talaban out of business. It had every thing to do with BushCo's political agenda and silencing anyone who opposed them or got in their way. If this was an isolated incident, like one blow job, you might be able to excuse them. However, this is a pattern of behavior that they have exhibited since the 2000 election.

The Brits must be forced to allow the publication of this new memo. No more secrets. It's time for the public to learn the truth about these thugs and murders. This memo and all the rest needs to be published and to become part of the public record of this cabal crimes.

By Steve James
21 November 2001

Just before the Northern Alliance marched into Kabul on Monday November 12, US armed forces dropped a 500-pound bomb on the studios of the popular Arab satellite TV station al-Jazeera (the Peninsula). No one was hurt, as the building was not occupied at the time by any of the 10 al-Jazeera journalists and technicians based there, a decision having already been taken to evacuate the building in advance of the Northern Alliance’s entry into Kabul. The same attack damaged nearby offices of the BBC and the Associated Press.

Immediately after the raid, the station’s London bureau chief, Muftah Al Suwaidan, told the Guardian newspaper, “al-Jazeera’s office is in the heart of Kabul. The building is the only one to have been hit so it looks like it was deliberate.” The station’s managing director, Mohammed Jassim al-Ali, said that the US had been previously informed of al-Jazeera’s location.

http://wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/jaz-n21.shtml

[PDJane]

1. The US has been

targetting the press and medical staff, both of whom count the bodies.

It's is absolutely outrageous, despicable and infuriating.

If Americans aren't ashamed of this administration, they aren't paying attention.

[UpInArms]

15. PENTAGON THREATENS TO KILL INDEPENDENT REPORTERS IN IRAQ

http://www.gulufuture.com/news/kate_adie030310.htm

10th March, 2003
by Fintan Dunne, Editor
http://www.GuluFuture.com

The Pentagon has threatened to fire on the satellite uplink positions of independent journalists in Iraq, according to veteran BBC war correspondent, Kate Adie. In an interview with Irish radio, Ms. Adie said that questioned about the consequences of such potentially fatal actions, a senior Pentagon officer had said: "Who cares.. ..They've been warned."

According to Ms. Adie, who twelve years ago covered the last Gulf War, the Pentagon attitude is: "entirely hostile to the the free spread of information."

"I am enormously pessimistic of the chance of decent on-the-spot reporting, as the war occurs," she told Irish national broadcaster, Tom McGurk on the RTE1 Radio "Sunday Show."

Ms. Adie made the startling revelations during a discussion of media freedom issues in the likely upcoming war in Iraq. She also warned that the Pentagon is vetting journalists according to their stance on the war, and intends to take control of US journalists' satellite equipment --in order to control access to the airwaves.

...more...

[jn2375]

2. because they could

[SpiralHawk]

3. Yes, please tell us why? K & R

This stinks.

[EFerrari]

4. You must be mistaken. We don't bomb civilians.

Do we. :sarcasm:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

5. They're not civilians.

They're enemy combatants. Duh. :sarcasm:

(Thank goodness for that sarcasm tag. I'd be toast without it)

[EFerrari]

7. I should have known that.

Their name starts with "al". :sarcasm:

(Me, to.)

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Turns out that the US attacked them again in Baghdad

In April, 2003. This time we fired a few missiles into their studios killing one of their journalists. Again, al-Jazeera was deliberately targeted by the US. Seems Bush's jokes aren't so funny after all.

April 08, 2003

DOHA, Qatar (AP) Al-Jazeera reported one of its journalists was killed Tuesday when the satellite television network's Baghdad office was struck during a U.S. bombing campaign. Employees speculated that the station was targeted for its war coverage.

The station described journalist Tareq Ayyoub as 'martyr of duty' and a "dear and loyal colleague." Television images showed people immediately after the bombing carrying Ayyoub to a jeep then rushing him to the hospital.

<SNIP>

The al-Jazeera office is in a two-story house on a road along the Tigris River that links the Information Ministry with the old palace presidential compound. Al-Jazeera said the area is residential and isn't close to governmental or military installations. The station continued to broadcast live from the Palestine Hotel after the bombing.

Some Al-Jazeera employees felt the bombing might have been deliberate, for the station has been reporting extensively on the plight of Iraqi civilians and the number of casualties from U.S. bomb attacks.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1859614

[hollowdweller]

20. Did you ever see this incident in the documentary film "Control Room"??

If you ever have a chance to watch it it pretty much removed any doubt in my mind that them bombing them was an accident. I felt really sorry for the guy that was killed. You could tell he was real nervous being up there reporting on it but he was trying to be a good journalist.

[EFerrari]

21. Yes! I saw it and watched the whole thing a second time.

The film leaves no doubt, that's true.

[robbedvoter]

8. Uh...they didn't get that W was "just joking?"

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

10. He loves to repeat the same joke, over and over again.

What a kidder. :sarcasm:

I effening hate these people.

[mzmolly]

9. The same reason Democrats got anthrax and people find horses heads

in their bed - to threaten them.

Good question.

[EFerrari]

11. DYEW, who has the memo, do you know? n/t

[librechik]

13. the British gov slapped a gag on the memo--it is not released yet

except as a leak

I imagine there will be a shocking legal battle over it--after all, the reporter must now be tried for revelaing state secrets. Right?

I'm afraid Tony Blair is in a bit of a pickle over this--add in the secret CIA prisons n torture and you have a recipe for revolution in Europe. They still apparently practice that, unlike us.

[EFerrari]

16. Contact info for Daily Mirror HERE:

The Daily Mirror published a story. I just bookmarked muriel's thread but see that feature is now turned off.

Here it is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1943321

Was wondering if a show of support for the British press might not be in order. ("I'm sorry my government is full of criminals and hope you stand tall in exposing them." :( )

[e-mail]

[Radio_Lady]

14. Here is the best link I could find:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16397937%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=exclusive%2d%2dbush%2dplot%2dto%2dbomb%2dhis%2darab%2dally-name_page.html

[EFerrari]

17. Thank you. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. David Keogh and Leo O'Connor

were arrested and charged with leaking the memo. They have since been release, I assume to stand trial at a later date.

Kevin Maguire of the Mirror received the memo from them and wrote the article.

[EFerrari]

19. Got it, thanks. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Haven't you heard?

There is a connection between aljezeeera and al qaeda. dubya said so.

[entanglement]

22. I was 'over there' briefly, and it's really funny

The idiots WANT such a thing to have happened, but at the same time they can't believe that the 'liberal media' got it right. Evil idiots.
:crazy:

[TheGunslinger]

23. Here's the Guardian article on the Kabul bombing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/waronterror/story/0,1361,597067,00.html



al Jazeera Washington correspondent detained at Waco airport during his efforts to cover the summit between * and Putin
http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vp01.cfm?outfit=pmt&requesttimeout=500&folder=129&paper=173